Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1) - Jay Kristoff Page 0,149

not be best served by planting the notebook, rather than a single drop of blood?”

“So if you’d found her notes, would that prove me innocent or guilty?”

Drusilla scowled, folded her arms.

“Are there none who can speak to your whereabouts?”

Mia’s fingernails bit her palms. Of course there was someone who could vouch for her. But for Tric to admit he’d come to her room would mean admitting he’d broken curfew. They’d scourge him for it. Probably worse than Hush.

“… there is one who can speak to her whereabouts…”

Mia’s belly surged. Mister Kindly had materialized on the Revered Mother’s desk, staring at the old woman with tilted head. Drusilla turned to regard the creature, skepticism plain in her eyes. But Mia knew he had no affection for Tric. No loyalty. He’d sell the boy in a second if it meant sparing Mia another second of this indignity.

“O, really?” Drusilla said. “Dare I ask?”

“… i do not know. dare you…?”

“Mister Kindly, don’t,” Mia warned.

“… and why not…?”

“Because I’m asking you not to.”

Drusilla turned sharply at that, regarding Mia with narrowed eyes. “Acolyte, I should not need to explain the seriousness of this crime. If you are found guilty of murdering Acolyte Carlotta, you will be scourged at the very least. Perhaps even killed. If there is another that can provide alibi for you yestereve…”

Mia’s gaze was fixed on the not-cat. Pleading.

“… you used to trust me more…”

“Please, don’t.”

“… what changed, mia…?”

“Enough,” Drusilla snapped. “I am mistress of these halls. Speak not to her, speak to me. In Our Blessed Lady’s name, I command it.”

Mister Kindly turned his head at that, his bottomless stare fixed on Drusilla.

“… it is obvious, really…”

“Mister Kindly, don’t.”

The not-cat swished his tail. Looked the old woman up and down.

“… it is me…”

In the silence following, Mia swore she heard Adonai chuckling. The not-cat glanced at her, seemed to shake his head as if to say she should have known better.

“… i never leave her side. i watch while she sleeps. i know exactly what she did last eve…”

“Do you take me for a fool, little passenger?”

“… there are fools in these halls, revered mother, but you and she are not among them…”

Mister Kindly nodded in Mia’s direction.

“… she would not, and could not have done this…”

Drusilla snarled and rose from her perch, seated herself behind her desk. Adonai wandered the alcoves, still touching a phial here, a phial there, smiling faintly. The old woman steepled her fingers.

“Acolyte Mia Corvere. You are confined to chambers. Your meals will be brought to you, along with any materials you require to continue your studies. You will be permitted no outside contact, and a Hand will be posted outside your door until this matter is resolved. The Ministry will meet this eve and discuss your fate.”

Two Hands seemed to materialize beside Mia’s chair. Realizing there was no sense in incurring the Mother’s wrath further, Mia rose slow, bowed deep, and marched from Drusilla’s chambers. The Hands escorted her all the way to her bedroom, ushering her inside and shutting the door behind them. A quick glance through the keyhole saw the hooded figures lurking in the hallway outside.

Her room had been turned over, drawers upended, bedding stripped. Mia flopped down on the bare mattress, lit a cigarillo and stared at the ceiling.

“Well, shit.”

Mister Kindly materialized on the bedhead, peered down into her eyes.

“… I would prefer your apology in writing, though particularly eloquent spoken word may suffice…”

“Aye,” Mia said, clearing her throat. “Sorry about that.”

“… this must be some new breed of eloquence i am unfamiliar with…”

“’Byss and blood, I’ll write you a fancy one on gilded parchment and sing it from the mountaintop later. We’ve more pressing matters to mind, neh?”

“… even if they find you guilty, they’ll not kill you for it…”

“What makes you so certain? They might make example of me.”

“… it makes little sense to do so. the murderer was skilled enough to escape their bedchamber after ninebells, sneak to the hall of truth, cut the girl’s throat ear to ear, wash off gouts of blood and sneak back to bed, all without being seen…”

Mia blew smoke into the not-cat’s face. “Her name was Carlotta, Mister Kindly.”

“… be that as it may, the murderer shows considerable skill in precisely the arts they teach here…”

“O, aye, they might even pin a ribbon on my baps.”

“… doubtful. but i also doubt the masters of a school of deadly assassins can get too upset that one of their students actually turned out